Dry pipe valve



A. C. ROWLEY DRY PIPE VALVE Feb, 2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1951 Fb. Z, Y1954 A. c. RowLEY DRY PIPE VALVE Filed Dec. 28, i951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. C. ROWLEY DRY PIPE VALVE Feb. 2, 1954 Filed Dec. 28, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 2, 1954 A. c. RowLEY 2,667,934

DRY PIPE VALVE 'Filed Dec. 2s, 1951 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Feb. 2, 1954 DRY PIPE VALVE Arthur C. Rowley, Drexel Hill, Pa., assigner to Globe Automatic Sprinkler Company of Penn- Sylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.,v a. corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 28, 1951, Serial No. 263,880

This invention relates to improvements in valves for dry pipe sprinkler systems, and a primary object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple compact and highly eicient valve of this type.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a valve of the'stated type wherein the latching means for the valve constitutes a built-in part of the structure of the valve clapper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve of the stated type including improved means for resetting the valve in operative condition after actuation.

TheV invention includes also certain novel structural and mechanical details and arrangements hereinafter described and illustrated in the attached drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a dry pipe valve made in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the valve;

y'Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the valve clapper shown in Figure 1 and illustrates certain details of construction not clearly illustrated in the latter figure;

LFigure 4 is a iragmentary sectional view on the line 4 4, Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5, Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the clapper retaining element;

Figure 7 is an exploded vertical sectional view 1 Claim. (Cl. 1694-20) 2 in Figure 1. The pivot 6 1 is located to one side of the bushing II so that the clapper may move about the pivot between the seated position, indicated in full lines in Figures 1 and 2, and an elevated or retracted position which is indicated in broken lines. In the latter position the clapper leaves the opening through the bushing II in substantially unobstructed condition so that the water discharging from the main may pass directly to the dry pipe system 5.

Pivotally mounted at I2-on the inner wall of the casing I is an arm I3 which normally rests upon a lug I4 extending inwardly from the inner face of the casing wall. The arm I3 is substantially L-shaped and when seated upon the lug I4 willoccupy the position in which it is shown in Figure 1. It will be apparent that gravity tends to retain the arm in this position. The arm I3 has three lugs I5. I5, Il projecting from the` inner face thereof toward the clapper 8. These lugs are arranged in series longitudinally of the arm I3 and project into the path of a lugy I8 on the clapper 8 in its movement with the clapper between'the seated and retracted positions mentioned above. When the clapper is seated the lug IB will underlie the lug I5 and when the clapper is elevated it will engage the lug I5 and will elevate the arm I3 about its pivot I2. The lug I8 will follow an arc centered in the common axis of the screws 6 and 1, Whereas the lug I5 will travel in a different arc centered in the pivot I2 so that after a given upward movement of these parts the lug I8 will of the valve clapper Ashowing the forms of the several component elements;

Figure 8 is a front elevational view of the dry pipe valve as installed in a dry pipe system including the auxiliary equipment; and

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the assembly illustrated in Figure 8.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings the dry pipe valve forming the illustrated embodiment of my invention comprises the usual casing I having an inlet port 2 and a discharge port 3. As illustrated in Figure '7, the port 2 is adapted for connection to a suitable Water main 4; and the port 2 connects to the dry pipe system which is indicated by the reference numeral 5.

Mounted within the casing I upon pivot screws 6 and 1 is a valve clapper 8 which is arranged to cooperate with a seat 9 to separate the port 2 from the port 3. vIn the present instance the seat 8 is formed on a bushing II which is threaded into the Vcasing I, as best illustrated clear the inner side of the lug I5 and will then permit the arm I6 to fall by gravity until interrupted by engagement of the lug IB with the lug I8. Continued elevation of the clapper will continue the elevation of the arm I3 until such time as the lug I8 clears the inner end .of the lug 'I6 when the arm I3 Will again drop until the lug II engages the lug I8 of the clapper. Con

tinued elevation of the clapper will eventually carry the lug I8 clear of the lug I1 thereby per@ mitting the arm I3 to assume its normal position supported by the xed lug I4 of the casing, leaving the clapper 8 free to assume its extreme elevated position as indicated in broken lines in Figure 1. It will be noted by further reference to Figure l, however, that the lug I1 while permitting passage of the lug I8 in the upward movement of the clapper, is shaped so that when the arm I3 is in the normal position the lug I1 will present a shoulderIS to the lug I8 which acts asa stop for the clapper when the latter 3 moves toward the seating position as illustrated in broken lines in Figure 1. The stops |5 and I6 will function in like manner to prevent return of the clapper to its seat from intermediate positions yof clapper retraction. 5

The structural form of the clapper 8 is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 and 7. The clapper comprises a metallic or otherrigid disc-like body2| from one side of which project the ears 22 and 23 which are apertured for reception of the pivot l screws E and E (see Figure 2). In Figure 7 the aperture in the ear 23 is indicated by the refer ence numeral 24. At the undersideof the-.body 2| and adjoining the peripherybf'fth'e bodyis a.. circular groove or recess 252;:fandat1theftop 0111.15` the disc is a peripheral ange 26 which is internally threaded at 36 for a purpose hereinafter described. The ange 26 is unde'rcutfromthev inner side by a groove 28 and a series oftapped holes 2l is provided in the bottom of the groove 20 25,- which holes intersect the undercut groove 248, t as bestY illustrated in Figures 3 and '7. A rubber or :other 4gasket 40, the .form of whichis illustratedin Figures 3 and 7, is seated in the an.- nularrecess and is held in place by screws .25 29 which pass through apertures 3| in a Washer retainingring 32, through apertures 33 in the gasket 4U and into the tapped holes 21 of the clapper body. As shoWninFigure 3, the screws. 29 are provided with longitudinal central bores V90 BLlfWhiCh-attheinner ends of the screws are in :communication with the undercut recess 2B. Threaded into the top of the body of the clapper 8 by way o1 the=threads 30 is a bushing 35 .having at the top thereof an outwardly pro- 35.

jectingflangeV 36Awhich coacts with an opposed parallelsurface` 3101": the clapper-body to provide'a clamp for the turned-under peripheral edge 38-.of a rubber or other flexibler diaphragm 39. ture-4| which receives an upwardlyprojecting stem 42 on a disc 43.which immediately underlies the .diaphragmas best shown in Figurel and which normally seats upon the top surface of the body of the clapper. member` 43 isy provided at itsunderside .with a peripheral seriesof depending lugs A'liwhich normally seat upon the upperconfronting surface of' thefbody member of the clapper andwhich pro,-

vide` a number of slots 45 which establish". com- '50.

munication` between the undercut recessfandf the underside of the member43. The portions of the diaphragm 39 whichvedge thecentral aperture 14| areclosely connedin an undercut cir-r cumferentialrecess 46 at the base. of the up- 55 wardly extending stem42 of the disc 43, andjthe stem 42 isv provided with flat side surfaces 41,747 and with a `transverse aperture 48which`I extends between the said4 surfaces. This aperture receives apin t9-the projecting ends of which form 60 a pivotal support for the bifurcated`end of a' lever arm 5| Athe function of which will be here'- inafter described. Itwillbe noted'further that a separator strip` 52" is provided between the underside 'of Athe diaphragm and theV confronting 65 conical surface' of thev bushing 35: the separator stripA being: cone-shapedu to conformi to theesaid'Ll surface-of the bushing and ofy the confrontingAVV inclined surface of thediaphragmi Itf'will-now be. apparentthat the clapper .struc- 70 ture includesnot only the aforesaid bodyf-memben Y but! also the` diaphragmt SiJQw-ithv itsassociatedY discLmem'ber 43 Awhich .formi between the und'erfr sideof'the said member 4-3f1andithe1upper'surface of the; clapperA bodyl chamber designated in.

Apor-t 2 of the valve casing The disc 39 is provided withr a central aper- 40.

andthisdepending end portion is recessedat'its It will be noted'that Vth'e 4:3.

Figure 3 by the reference numeral 53 which is sealed except for its communication through the slots 45 and the undercut recess 28 with the bores 34 of the screws 29.

The bushing which forms the seat for the clapper 8 as previously described is best illustrated.-in-Figur.es.73 and.,7. .l It v.comprises-a depending `externally'threaded "flange, 54 by way of which it is threaded into the upper end of the At the top the bushing is provided with agcircumferential channel v.55deined Yby upwardly extending spaced walls Y The uppensurfaces 58 and 59 of these wallsforms concentric relatively spaced seats for theegasket 40,-.,the-youter and inner peripheral flanges iiandrahoithis gasket being arranged for seating engagement with the said surfaces 58`an`d'59"`as best illustrated in Figure 3. As i1- 1ustrated.the heads of the screws 29 and the gasket retaining ring 32 project downwardly into the topy of the channel..25 when the clapper is seated .on the bushing andv under these circumstances .the lower and outer ends of the bores 34 of the screws communicate with the said channel. As Vshown in Figure 1,' the outer wall`56 of the 'bushingis provided with atapped hole 63'which receives one end of a tube.64 which extends outwardly through a lsuitably sealed opening `in.- the side of the. valve casing andinto an. interior chamber Gof aliittingl which issecured to the side of Vthecasing landwhich functions... for'. ,the` purpose hereinafter, described.

The'arm 5| which aspreviously described. pivotally, atached to the stem 42 of thediaphragm assembly,39.-.'43 extends radially to the periph,.` eral edge. ofthe clapper and at the end is pivotally connected by a pin v|8.to andbetween apair of upstandinglugs 63. and 17|, as best shown in Figure 2.. The outer extremity of the arm 5| -extends downwardly as indicated at 'l2 in Figure. l.

outer surface as shown at '|3.` When the clapper is=.sea.ted..and. the diaphragm is. depressed, as,v in Figure 1.this` recess.`|3'is positioned to receive.

.- theinnerproj ecting endof a detent plug 74 which.

is mounted 'in anaperturefl in thewall of .thev casingJ- -Aslsh'own in Figures 1, 2,and.j6, the plug |4'has a disc '|5'at itsouter. end from the inner-,face of. which Y projects. a small. locking .fpin '|52 In assembly the discV 75 seats within.. a.. countersunk.- recess .11v at .the .outer ,endof the. plug opening Tllj and the pin '|6enters..andcloselyts` acylindrical` recessfl .in the,.casing to thereby secure the pin '|4 in a predetermined position and.. to maintain it in this'. position. The..p1ug '|4is. held in place .by a threadedlo'cking plug 19. whichV is threaded intdthe. outerendofithe counter;- sunk opening Tl? The .inner` extremityl. of. the?v detent v.plug |4'is1sh`apedjto enter.. the ,recessJS Zof the lever extension 12and.to. codperatewithftle. Y slightly inclined 1bottom..surface Slofthe. recess '|3,as;best.shown inFigures- .1 and Sito. loclc the.. clapper inthe seatedposition.- f

It will be noted .that the.. effectiveness of` the.,

. detentfto. lock. the. clapper. onj. its; seatj depends uponthe vposition ofiv the diaphragmA 39- and. of; its ,associatedfmem'ber ,43 Thus. when` the mem.- f ber. 43 isr seated.. on the.` body. of the.,- clappergas.. shown in Figure 1 the depending end 12 ofzthef.

`lever5.| will .beheld -in an advancedposition-.with

retraction of the depending end portion 12 of the lever from the detent plug 14 and release of the lever from the detent. When this occurs the clapper is free to move upwardly from its seat.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted that the Wall of the casing is provided in the lower part thereof with a projecting boss 82 having a threaded opening at its outer end for reception of the correspondingly threaded end of a pipe 83, see Figure 2. The hollow interior of the boss 82 communicates with a passage 8 4 which extends to the intake port 2 `of the casing. The casing is also provided below the valve seat bushing with a port. 85 in the outer end of which is threaded a pipe 86. In the upper part of the casing is a third port 81 from which extends a pipe 88; and a fourth port (not shown) is provided in the casing above the clapper seat bushing from which extends a pipe89 shown in Figure 8. The function of these several ports will be described hereinafter.

The iitting 61 is best illustrated in Figure 5. As previously set forth, this fitting contains a chamber 66 with which the outer end of the pipe 64 communicates and which communicates in turn with an overiiow chamber 9| having a discharge port 92 passing to atmosphere. The port 92 is controlled by a clapper valve 93 in the interior ofthe fitting which in a normal gravity assumed position shown in full lines in Figure 5, leaves the port substantially unobstructed, and which is adapted under certain conditions to assume an elevated position shown in broken lines to thereby close the port 92. Where the ow of liquid through the fitting to the discharge port is slow, as might occur for example in minor leakage past the gasket 28 of the clapper into the channel 55 of the bushing the valve 93 will maintain its normal retracted position, but if a solid stream of liquid passes through the pipe 64 to the fitting 61 and moves to the discharge port 92 the force of its flow will be suiiicient to move the valve 93 upwardly to the port sealing position thereby preventing escape of the liquid from the chamber 66 of the fitting by way of the overflow port. The fitting 61 has a port 94 in its top in which is secured one end of a pipe 95 which extends upwardly to a suitable alarm system (not shown), this pipe containing a check valve 96.

A branch pipe 91 from the pipe 95 extends upf' wardly to an accelerator unit 98, this unit being operatively connected also with upper part of the casing through the pipe 88 which extends to the port 81 previously referred to. It will be noted by reference to Figures 8 and 9 that the pipe 88 contains a control valve 99 located between the accelerator 98 and the port 81.

The pipe 83 extends transversely from the boss 82 of the casing and downwardly as shown in Figures 8 and 9 to a suitable drain, and this pipe contains a valve |0| by means of which the pipe can be closed or opened as required. A branch pipe |02 from the pipe 83 extends to the bottom of a funnel |03 the open top of which underlies the discharge port 92 of the fitting 61. The pipe |02 contains a check valve |04 which prevents discharge through this pipe from the drain pipe 83 while permitting flow through the pipe |02 from the funnel |03 to the drain.

The pipe 86 extends away from the port 85 and upwardly to a port in the upper part of the casing. 'Ihis pipe contains two valves |05 and |06 and from a point between these valves a branch pipe |01 extends from the pipe 86 to a point above the drain funnel |03. By reason of the valves |05 and |06 the drain pipe |01 may be segregated from either one or both of the upper and lower portions of the pipe 86 which connect respectively to the top and bottom of the casing I.

A valve |08 is interposed between the inlet port 2 of the casing and the pressure main 4 (see Figure 8) so that the valve casing may be shut off from the main as required by the operations hereinafter described. It will be noted also that the casing I is provided at one side with a cover plate |09 which is secured in place by screws and which may be removed to aiord access to the interior of the casing K In normal operation of the dry pipe valve the clapper 8 will occupy its seat as shown in Figure 1. The clapper will be exposed at the underside to the pressure in the water main 4. The upper face of the clapper will be exposed to the pressure of the air with which the dry pipe system is charged in accordance with the conventional practice and this pressure will be in excess of atmospheric. In accordance with the usual prac-V tice also, the lower portion of the upper chamber of the casing will contain water to suicient depth to cover the valve Seat. The latching elements will be in the positions in which they are shown in Figure 1 wherein the diaphragm 39 is depressed and the'lugs 44 are seated upon the upper surface of the disc-like body portion f the clapper 8. The diaphragm and -disc' 43 are held in this position by the iiuid pressure in the dry pipe system, this by reason of the fact that the chamber 53 at the underside of the diaphragm and disc is connected through the recess 28, and bores 34 of screws 29 with the channel 55 of the bushing which as previously Idescribed is connected by way of the pipe 64 and fittings 61 with the discharge port 92 opening to atmosphere. It is evident that the pressure in the main 4 will tend to force the clapper 8 upwardly from its seat and that this unseating force will tend also to cause the lever 5| by reason of the engagement of the depending end portion 12 of this lever with the detent 14 to turn counterclockwise about the pivotpin 68 so as to elevate the disc 43 and the diaphragm 39. The pressure in the dry pipe system must be sufficiently in excess of atmosphere that, acting upon the upper surface of the diaphragm, it will oiset the unseating force ofthe water pressure exerted on the underside of the clapper.

It will be apparent thatfany leakage of water past the gasket 28 from either side of the valve will enter the channel 55 and will pass by gravity through the pipe 64 and fitting 61 to the drain port 92 from this port to the drain funnel |03. Such leakage being necessarily small under normal conditions would have no effect upon the valve 93 of the tting 81 which remains open.

Under these conditions also the valve 99 connecting the accelerator 98 with the casing will be open. The valve |0| which connects the drain pipe 83 with the lower part of the casing will be closed, as also will the valves |05 and |06. The valve4 90 which controls the drain pipe 89 is also closed, it being noted that the depending discharge end of the pipe 89 overlies the drain funnel |03.

Assuming now that one or more of the sprinklers in the dry pipe system are released in response to abnormal temperatures to which they may be exposed, the air pressure in the dry pipe system will begin to fall by reason of the resulting leakage. A sufcient drop in the fluid pressure exerted onfthe top ofthe diaphragm 39 will permitthe pressure of the Water at the inlet port 2 of the valve casing 4and in the main 4 to force the clapper 8'upwardly from its seat,` this being accompanied by a counterclockwise angular movement of the lever I about the pin'68, as previously explained, thereby retracting the dependn ing end 'l2 of the lever fromthe-'terminal end 8i of' the detent plug 74. The initial unseating of the valve 8 will admit water from the main to the'channel 55 of the valve seat bushing II and thence through the pipel tothe interior of the iittingl. This volume ow of water tothe drain port 92 of the tting will ycause the valve 93 to elevate and close the drain port so'that the water accumulating in the'fitting il will ovv upwardly through the. pipe 95 to the alarm device with which that pipe is connected. The accelerator, the details of which form no part of the present invention, may be of the general character of that disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,913,245, issued in 1938,r and will function in well-known manner to bleed the air pressure from the dry pipe system rapidlyby Way of the port 87 and pipe 97 so as to rapidly reduce the air pressure in the system to thereby accelerate the opening movement of the clapper 3 under the unbalanced pressure in thewater main. Any surges in the system tending to reseat the clapper 8 before it is fully opened Will be prevented by interaction of the lug I3 of the clapper structure Withthe lugs I5, iE and I'.' of` the lever I3 as previously described. Water from the main now passes freely to and through the sprinkler system.

`When it isdesired to Yreseat the. valve and the apparatus after restoring the sprinkler system by replacement -of the open sprinkler heads, the valve'IIlB having previously been closed to disconnect the main 4 from the system, the initial step is that of draining the sprinkler system free of contained water. This is accomplished by opening the valve II which permits the water to passA from the system through thepassage 8.1i and drain pipe 83. In this operation the clapper 8 is maintained in the elevated pcsitionrby engagement of the lug I8 with the shoulder I9 of the lug I1. Water will drain from the alarm system through a small orifice in the valve seat of valve 98 provided for thatl purpose; and water Willalso drain from the Water side of the accelerator 98 through pipe 91 and fitting 61. The cover plate H39 may now be removed from the casina I and the lever I3 elevatedto release the clapper 8, permitting this clapper to return toits seat. The valve-IUI nWill'then be closed and the dry pipe l8 system charged with pressure air in accordance with the usual practice, after which the valve |08 may be reopened to connectV the casing I with the water maind.

AI claim:

In a valve of the character described, a casing having inlet and outlet ports, a valve seat in'- termediate the ports, a valve element havinga body portion coactive with the seat to separate the portasaid seatV confronting the said discharge port so that fluid pressure at the inlet port will tend to unseat the valve element,fa chamberin the valve seat openingtoward the discharge port and sealed'by the valve element from both of said ports when the said-'element is seated, a duct extending from the .chamberto the exterior of the casing, a member supported solely by said body portion and constituting la relatively moveable part of theV valve element, flexible means connecting themember with the said body portion and sealing the joint between the memberand the body portion so as to form with the latter a chamberv within the valve element, said flexible means being exposed to fluid pressure atthe discharge side of the valve, channel means in said body portion for establishing communication between the last named chamber and the chamber in the valve seat when the valve element is seated, a relatively xed detent on the casing, a latch member pivotally mounted onv the body portiongof the valve element forl interlocking engagementf in an advanced position with the detent to retain the valve on its seat, said member being pivot-ally retractable for disengagementfrom the detent, and said latch member beingV connected tothe said relatively moveable member of the valve element and being heldrby the latter in the said advanced position whenthe said memberl and flexible means are under fluid pressure inthe discharge side only of the valve casing as whenthe valve element is seatedVand 'said detent constituting a fulcrum for retractive movement of the latch member about its pivot resulting fromA displacement of the valve element from its seat by unbalanced uid pressures in the intake side of the valve casing.

ARTHUR C. ROWLEY.

References Cited in the lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,763,834 Tyden June 17, 1930 1,866,766 Gri'ith July 12, 1932 

